(CEMESP) - The Liberian Senate on today September 2nd, 2010 concurred with the House of Representatives to pass the Liberian freedom of information bill into law. The Senate reached the decision today following a unanimous vote during an executive session.

The House of Representatives on July 22nd 2010 also unanimously voted to pass the FOI bill and subsequently sent it to the Liberian senate for concurrence. The Liberian senate on August 18th 2010 conducted a public hearing on the bill with all of the expert presentations supporting the passage.

The passage of the Liberia Freedom of information law by the National legislature was preceded by intense lobbying and advocacy by members of the Liberia Freedom of Expression Coalition, The Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform working Group and the Liberia Civil society Consortium on Freedom of Information.

According to the Chairman of the Liberia Freedom of Expression coalition and the consortium, Malcolm Joseph, the passage of the FOI law has placed Liberia on the brink of history making in West Africa.

He said following the signing into law by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia will become the first West African country with a Freedom of Information Law.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is on record for her support to an access to information regime in Liberia.

Mr. Joseph described the passage of the FOI as bold step gear towards making    information accessible by all Liberians..
 
He then expressed thanks and appreciation to the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA, the Carter Center, UNESCO; the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), the International Media Support, Media Rights Agenda, article 19, Media Foundation for West Africa and the Partnership for Media and Conflict Prevention in West Africa for the level of support rendered the process.
 
Mr. Joseph said Liberians will continue to count on further support to ensure a successful implementation of law.

The Freedom of information Law was among three draft laws submitted to the House of Representatives on April 18th 2008, by the Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform working group.